Handlamp



July 6 1926.

N. M. HOPKINS HANDLAMP Filed Sept. 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 61926.

N. M. HOPKINS HANDLAMP Filed Sept. 20, 1322 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedJuly 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANDLAMP.

This invention relates to battery operated hand lamps and particularlyto that type in whlch a head member, carrying a lamp bulb, is adjustableupon a tubular casing.

The principal object of the invention is to simplify the construction ofsuch devices so far as is consistent with efiiciency and ease ofIoIperation.

and lamps manufactured according to the preferred form of the presentinvention consist of an integral tubular casing having an aperturedbottomof special form, a lamp-carrying head adjustable upon the casing,and resilient means between the lamp and a battery contained in thecasing, the circuit, through the lamp being controlled by adjustment ofthe head. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the improved hand lamp, showing thebattery cells in elevation;

Fi 2 is a similar view, showing a modified orm of resilient means;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, the lamp being shown inoperative position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a hand lamp having a non-conductivecasing; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the conductor strip used in the deviceof Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, numeral 1 denotes a casing having abottom 2 integral therewith. Casing 1 is preferably made from sheetbrass or aluminum stamped or drawn into the desired shape, but theinvention is not limited to casings made from these metals nor to anyparticular method of metal working. Aametallic head member 3, preferablyshaped to form a reflective surface 4, is screw-threaded to engagecooperating threads at the upper portion of easing 1. A lamp bulb 5 isreceived by a threaded central socket 5- in reflector 4. A coil spring 6is under compression between the base of the reflector and the top ofbattery cell 7. The s ring encircles'the carbon pole of that cell but 18well spaced from it to prevent the possibilit of contact. The casingbottom 2 1s provi ed with an aperture 8 defined by an upstanding wall 9having a relatively sharp edge presenting a substantially level supportupon which the zinc base of cell 10 rests. The zinc cups of cells 7 and10 are jacketed in paper or are otherwise suitably protected fromcontact with the casing wall. A fiber washer 11 may be placed on the topof cell 7 to prevent the possibility of the spring cutting into the sealor coming into contact with the zinc wall of the cell.

The circuit through the lamp 5- is closed and opened by screwing thehead member 3 in and out, respectively. hen the head is turned outwardlyfrom the position shown in Fig. 1, the inner terminal 12 of the lamp ismoved out of contact with the carbon pole of cell 7, and this spacedrelation is maintained by the action of spring 6. The thrust of thespring against the head member is sufiicient to insure its remaining inadjusted position.

One of the important advantages of the present construction is the meansfor making contact with the base of the lowest bat-- tery cell. Theupturned sharp edge of wall 9 scores or abrades the zinc to a suflicientextent to insure clean metallic contact at all times, and the wallprovides an integral path by which the current may pass to the casing. Apermanent low-resistance connection is thus obtained in a very simplemanner.

.A further advantage of the construction just described is that theaperture 8, formed by striking up the casing bottom to provide thecontact wall 9, permits the easy ejection of the cells. If the cellsbecome bound in the casing they may be readily displaced by inserting arod, a pencil for example, through the aperture. Also, the top edge ofthe wall 9 supports the battery squarely in the casing, thereby reducinthe tendency of the battery to fit obliquely in the casing and becomebound therein.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the constructiondifi'ers from Fig. 1 only in the substitution of a resilient.non-metallic member for the coil spring 6. The resilient member may be arubber tube 13 placed between the reflector 4 and the top of cell 7.When the lamp is not in use, the tube 13 spaces the opposed lamp andbattery terminals (Fig. 2). When the head member 3 is screwed inwardlyto bring the lamp into operative position (Fig. 3), the

tube is compressed or bowed outwardly and exerts a pressure upon thehead suflicient to hold it in adjusted position.

It is possible to dispense with resilient 1 members. The slight freedomof movement mice path from cell 10 to of the battery,

spring, are not sufficiently extensive to give" rise to destructiveimpact upon the lamp. However, the resilient members 6 and 13 haveuseful functions, as above pointed out, and will usually be employed.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which anon-conductive casing 14 is used. A metallic strip 15 carries thecurrent from cell 10 to the outer lamp terminal. The strip is bent atits ends to provide arms 16 and 17 extending at right angles to its bodyportion. Arm 16 passes through a slot 18 in the resilient tube 13, andhas an upturned end 19 held by the tube against the metallic reflectorsocket 5. Arm 17 extends beneath cell 10 and is punched to provide theupstanding wall 20, upon which the zinc bottom of the cell rests. Aclean zinc contact surface is maintained by engagement of the edge ofwall 20 with the cell bottom, in the same way as in the devices of Figs.1 and 2, and a low resistthe lamp is provided at all times. The strip 15may be held in position by the cells and resilient tube 13 or may besecured to the casing in any suitable way.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to construct flashlightswith spring-pressed head members ad uStable to regulate the circuitthrough the lamp, and I claim this construction only in combination withthe other advantageous features of the present invention. The devicesillustrated herein are preferred forms capable of being modified withrespect to various details of construction without de arting from theinvention as defined in t e appended claims.

I claim 1. In a hand lamp, a casing containing 9.

battery provided with a contact surface, a closure for one end of saidcasing, an aperture in the closure for introducing a rod to eject thebattery, and an upstanding member having a narrow marginal portionencircling said aperture and positioned between the closure and thecontact surface, said upstanding member being in electrical connectionwith one terminal of the lamp.

2. In a hand lamp, a casing containing a battery provided with a contactsurface, a closure for one end of said casing, an aper ture in theclosure for introducing a rod to eject the battery, an upstanding memberhaving a narrow marginal portion encircling said aperture and positionedbetween the closure and the contact surface, said upstanding memberbeing in electrical connection with one terminal of the lamp, andresilient means arranged to press the con- Eact surface against saidupstanding mem- 3. In a hand lamp, a casing containing a batteryprovided with a contact surface, a closure for one end of said casingand integral therewith, an aperture in the closure for introducing a rodto eject the bat tcry, said aperture having a raised marginal portion,and resilient means arranged to press the contact surface of the batteryagainst said raised marginal portion.

4. In a hand lamp, a casing containing a battery provided with a contactsurface, a closure for one end of the casing bearing an upstandingmember in circuit with the lamp, said member having a sharp edgedannular portion pressed against the contact surface of the battery,whereby the contact surface is abraded to insure good contact but thepressure against the contact surface is distributed to avoid rupturingthe battery.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

N. MONROE HOPKINS.

